Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Richmond vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Calais | Middlesex | Richmond | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
4,159Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Richmond and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
— | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 31% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.